Any.DO launched its sleek to-do list app on iPhone in mid-2012, but it was an update to the app this week that really caught my attention. After tracking how its user base — now in the millions — engaged with the app, the Any.DO team realized that user engagement drops off if they create a giant to-do list because it becomes too much to tackle. With that in mind, Any.DO released Moment, a daily reminder that prompts the user to take a moment to schedule the tasks on their list for that day.

“One of the things we learned is that in order for people to be really productive, they need to change task management into a habit,” Omer Perchik, founder and CEO of Any.DO, told Mashable in a previous interview. “We have a lot of users who create this everlasting list of all the things they need to do and once they get to a number of tasks that is just to much, they never look back. A long list is not very actionable and kind of frustrating.”

At first, I thought this kind of daily notification might feel like an accusation: here are all the things you keep saying you’ll get done, but don’t. However, Any.DO designed the feature with friendly colors and a friendly greeting (“Good day, Seth. Take a moment to plan your day.”) After using this for a few days, I’ve found that the Any.DO Moment is like a moment of Zen. I start out my day with a plan and feel that much more in control of what’s coming up.

About the Author

Marcy Twete

Marcy Twete is a career fundraiser turned corporate responsibility executive, a career and networking expert and the author of the book "You Know Everybody! A Career Girl’s Guide to Building a Network That Works."